Combination boat trailer

ABSTRACT

A boat construction having a pair of spaced-apart slots near the stern open to the bottom of the boat and the stern wall of the boat and a retractible running gear pivotally mounted in the slots between a land transport position and a retracted position. A detachable hitch having a three-point connection to the bow of the boat and a universal joint connection to a holding vehicle.

United States Patent J alowiecki et al.

[ Sept. 12, 1972 [54] COMBINATION BOAT TRAILER [72] Inventors: Jerzy George Jalowiecki, 1715 De Seve St., Montreal, Quebec; Jan Metelski, 22, 58th Ave., Laval, Quebec, both of Canada [22] Filed: March 31, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 24,298

[52] US. Cl. ..9/1 T, 114/56 [51] Int. Cl ..B63c 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..9/1 R, l T, 6; 114/56, 61,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Levinson ..9/1 T Richardson ..9/1 T 3,154,799 11/1964 Jalowiecki ..9/1 T 3,117,544 l/1964 Schoell ..9/6 X 3,190,587 6/1965 Fries ..9/6 X 3,191,572 6/1965 Wilson ..ll4/6l X Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant ExaminerF. K. Yee Attorney-Alan Swabey 57 ABSTRACT A boat construction having a pair of spacedapart slots near the stern open to the bottom of the boat and the stem wall of the boat and a retractible running gear pivotally mounted in the slots between a land transport position and a retracted position. A detachable hitch having a three-point connection to the bow of the boat and a universal joint connection to a holding vehicle.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED E I Z I 3.689.950 SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTORS .lerzy George .IALOWIECKI Jon METELSKI P'A'TE'NTEDSIEP 12 1912 sum 2 or 3 INVENTORS .lerzy George JALOWIECKI Jon METELSKI PATENTEDSEP 12 1912 SHEET 3 [1F 3 v wEk .IALOWIECKI INVENTORS Jerzy George Jon METELSKI ATTORNEY COMBINATION BOAT TRAILER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to improvements in hulls of boats particularly to a hull for a boat suitable for receiving a retractible running gear and the combination thereof and a detachable hitch for pulling such a boat or similar vehicle.

2. Description of Prior Art Reference is made to US. Pat. No. 3,154,799 issued Nov. 3, 1964, inventor J. G. J alowiecki. In this patent, a combined boat trailer having a retractible running gear was described.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is an aim of the present application to provide an improved hull for a boat for receiving a retractible gear of the general type as shown in the above-mentioned patent. It is a further aim of the invention to provide an improved retractible running gear.

It is yet a further aim of the present invention to provide a hitch for pulling a boat behind an automobile or the like, wherein the hitch can be detached from the boat as well as the automobile when it is required to float the boat on water.

A construction in accordance with the present invention includes a hull for a boat comprising a bow, a stern and a bottom; the bottom including a central longitudinal supporting surface, a pair of longitudinal parallel slots extending a predetermined distance in the bottom from the stern and a predetermined distance in the stern from the bottom of the hull, said central supporting surface being defined between said slots. Retractible running gear can be arranged so that it is pivoted in the gears for movement from a boat floating position wherein the slots are within the limits of the hull, and to a land transport position wherein the running gear protrudes downwardly from the slots.

A hitch construction in accordance with the present invention comprises a hitch member adapted to be connected at one end to a hauling vehicle, the other end of the hitch including at least a pair of members having connecting means on the ends thereof, the pair of members being provided in hinged relationship one relative to each other, at least a pair of bracket members adapted to be mounted to the boat, each bracket having hook-shaped seats, the brackets being mounted so they are open towards each other in a spaced-apart opposed relation on a front portion of the boat, the connecting means of the pair of hinged members being adapted to fit in the open seat of the respective spacedapart brackets, means for maintaining the hinged members in a spaced-apart relation whereby the connecting means are locked in the respective brackets.

In a more specific construction, the central supporting surface portion is defined forward of the slots between a pair of longitudinal ribs.

IN THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will be made to the accompanying drawings showing by way of illustration preferred embodiments thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment'of the hitch mounted to the front of the boat, hav-, ing a retractible running gear;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a typical boat hull embodying certain features of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of the stem end of the boat hull partly in section to show yet another feature of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation taken from the stem end of the boat showing the boat with the running gear in the land transport position;

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view of the stem end of the boat hull shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view taken from the bottom of the boat;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the hitch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the hitch showing the movement of one of the hinge members in dotted lines; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the detail of the hitch shown in FIGS. 1 and 9.

The boat hull is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings. The boat hull includes a bow 12, a stem 14 a port side 16 and a starboard side 18 as well as a bottom 20. At the bow of the boat 10 a detachable hitch 22 is shown while the retractible running gear 24 is near the stem 14.

A central portion of the bottom 20 is designated as a support area 26. This support area 26 is in effect that portion of the bottom which normally is supported on the water when the boat is cruising. In such a condition, normally the bow of the boat will be raised out of the water and in most boats the rear central portion is what is supporting the boat on the water.

In the present embodiment shown, particularly in FIGS. 2 and 7, the support area 26 has been found to extend between the areas defined by projections of the ribs 28 and 30 such as shown. These ribs have also been found to enhance the speed of the boat. Towards the bow 12 of the boat, the central portion between the ribs 28 and 30 is slightly concave or has a slightly upwardly extending V-shaped portion along line x-x. However, this tapers gradually until the central portion is flat such as shown along line y-y. Finally, at the stem 14 of the boat, there is a slight downwardly extending V-shape at the central portion of the bottom.

It is believed that as the boat cruises on the water air is trapped between walls defined by the ribs 28 and 30 and with the slight concave shape of the bottom this helps to lift the boat out of the water particularly in the support area 26. From the stem 14 of the boat 10, as seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, slots 32 and 34 are provided on either side of the general support area 26 which are in the path of longitudinal projections of the ribs 28 and 30.

Since the slots 32 and 34 are on either side of what has been found to be the boat support area 26, it does not appear to reduce the buoyancy effect on the boat 10. The slots 32 and 34 have been made such that not only are they open to the bottom at 32-34 but they are also open to the stem at 36. Thus any water streaming upwardly into the slots 32 and 34 does not have a detrimental efiect on the speed of the boat since streaming water is allowed to pass through the opening 36 in the stern of the boat. Of course, if the well or slots were closed, the water streaming into the well would hit the rear wall of the well and oppose the forward movement of the boat. It has also been found that the provisions of slots 32 and 34 increase the performance of the boat in that they reduce unnecessary friction area of the bottom 20 in areas which are not needed to support the boat, that is outside of the support area 26.

Certain limitations must be given the slots 32 and 34. These are particularly determined by the size and structural aspects of the boat. For instance, if these slots were made to extend too far forward, the structure of the boat would be weakened. Also, it would reduce the accommodations in the cockpit area.

The slots are also provided with a wheel well and an aerodynamic lip 38. The aerodynamic lip 38 reduces thestreaming of water into the slot and also provides a small amount of aerodynamic lift to the boat.

The slots 32 and 34 may also be used to house the retractible running gear 24. In the present embodiment, retractible running gear 24 includes a wheel 40 freely rotating on a shaft 42 mounted to a crank arm 44. In the drawings, suspension 46 is shown to which the crank arm 44 is connected. This suspension could be the torsion type or of the type known as NEID- HARDT as shown.

The suspension includes a suspension housing 48 which passes through the cockpit of the boat. Housing 48 connects the crank arms 44 with both slots 32 and 34 shown in FIG. 4. In the cockpit of the boat is provided a screw jack 50 connected to a bracket 52in the boat and a connecting bracket 54 mounted to the suspension housing 48 is associated with the screw jack. By hand rotating the screw jack 50, the connecting bracket 54 and the suspension housing 48 can be rotated so as to pivot the retractible wheels 40 into the wheel well 36 of the slot 32 and 34 or to rotate it in a position as shown in FIG. 6 where the wheels are in a land transport position.

The location of the axis of the suspension housing 48 is substantially coincident with the longitudinal center of gravity of the boat when an outboard motor is mounted to the stem 14. This is to improve the balance of the boat 10 when being trailed in a land transport position. The angle provided in crank arms 44 is a compromise to locate the wheels 40 in relation to the axis of housing 48 and to keep the length of slots 32 and 34 to a minimum.

Referring now to FIG. 1, and 8 through 10 the boat 10 with the hitch 22 is shown having a hitch beam 64 of a box member or channel construction. On one end of the beam 64 is a universal connecting joint 66 which is adapted to connect to a hauling vehicle such as an automobile.

In the embodiment shown, a pivoting member 72 is provided which is pivotally mounted to the beam 64 and pivots relative to the other end of the beam 64. The other end of the beam 64 of the present embodiment is shown having two leg members 68 and 70 connected to the end of the beam 64 and is reinforced.

Each end of the leg members 68 and 70 as well as the pivoting member 72 is provided with rigidly mounted connecting pins 74, 76 and 78. Pins 74 and 76 extend outwardly from the legs 68 and 70 respectively. Pin 78 is subtended between a U-shaped bracket 73 on the end of pivoting member 72. A locking strut 80 is pivoted to the pivoting member 72 at 81. A locking bracket 82 is mounted to the beam 64 and is adapted to receive the locking strut 80.

A locking device such asshown in FIG. 10 can be used to lock the locking strut 80 in position in the bracket 82. The locking deviceshown in FIG. 10 includes a locking T rod 86 passing through guide lugs 85 and a spring 84 normally urging the locking T rod 86 downwardly to the seat in the bracket 82.

Brackets 88 are mounted as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, to the front end of the hull of the boat and bracket 90 is mounted in a spaced-apart relationship from brackets 88. Each of brackets 88 and 90 have hook shaped seat members 92, and the hook-shaped seat members 92' of the bracket 88 are open towards the bracket 90, and the hook-shaped seat member 92 of the bracket 90 is open towards the brackets 88.

In operation, when it is required to attach the hitch to the boat, the beam member 64 is placed so that the locking pins 74 and 76 of the legs 68 and 70 are seated in the hook-shaped seat 92 of brackets 88. Pivoting member 72 is pivoted upwardly from the beam 64 so that the pin 78 engages the hook-shaped seat 92 of bracket 90 on the boat. Locking strut 80 is then pivoted downwardly so that the locking rod 86 engages the bracket82 on the beam 64 and locks the pivoting member 72 in a fully opened position so that the distance between the connecting pins 74 and 76 on the legs 68 and 70 to the connecting pin 78 on pivoting member 72 is greater than the distance between the edges of the openings in hook-shaped seats 92 of brackets 88'to the edge of the opening of the hookshaped seat 92 in bracket 90. Thus, a three-point lock structural unit is provided which is rigid to the boat.

The universal connector 66 of the beam 64 can now be connected to a suitable attachment to an automobile and the boat can be trailed about. When it is required to float the boat, one disengages the locking unit comprising the locking rod 86 from the locking bracket 82 so that the strut 80 no longer retains the pivoting member 72 in an extended position. Once the pivoting member 72 is pivoted downwardly towards the beam 64 the connecting pins 74 and 76 of legs 68 and 70 simply slide out of the hook-shaped seat 92 of brackets 88.

We claim:

1. A boat hull comprising a bow and a stern and a bottom wall, the bottom wall defining a central longitudinal boat supporting surface, a pair of longitudinal parallel slots in said bottom wall and opening vertically therefrom and extending a predetermined distance from and opening into the stem from the bottom wall and extending toward said bow a predetermined distance in the bottom wall and each defining a rearwardly-opening, enclosed well within the span of said bottom wall for reducing the drag at the stern of the hull, a central supporting surface in said bottom wall being defined between said wells and substantially immediately flanked by said wells; and retractible running gear provided in the wells for pivoting movement between a position with the running gear in the well substantially within the limits of the hull and to a position pivoted beneath the wells to a land transport position wherein the running gear protrudes downwardly from the wells to support the boat.

2. A boat hull as defined in claim 1 wherein longitudinal ribs extend forwardly on the bottom wall as the projection of the slots and the central supporting surface is defined between the slots and the longitudinal ribs.

3. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein the supporting surface of the bottom wall near to the bow defines an inverted shallow V shape while the supporting surface near the stern of the boat between the wells defines a shallow V shape.

4. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein the slots defined in the stern of the boat extend less than half the height of the stem.

5. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein an aerodynamic lip is provided at the leading edge of the slots in the bottom wall of the boat.

6. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein the running gear includes a wheel mounted to a resiliently mounted pivoting member for pivoting movement between a retracted position and a land transport position whereby the wheel protrudes from the bottom slot.

7. A boat hull as defined in claim 6, wherein the wheel supporting member includes a crank arm resiliently mounted to a rotating shaft member extending laterally across the boat and each crank arm fixed to said shaft provided in each well mounts a freely rotating wheel. 

1. A boat hull comprising a bow and a stern and a bottom wall, the bottom wall defining a central longitudinal boat supporting surface, a pair of longitudinal parallel slots in said bottom wall and opening vertically therefrom and extending a predetermined distance from and opening into the stern from the bottom wall and extending toward said bow a predetermined distance in the bottom wall and each defining a rearwardlyopening, enclosed well within the span of said bottom wall for reducing the drag at the stern of the hull, a central supporting surface in said bottom wall being defined between said wells and substantially immediately flanked by said wells; and retractible running gear provided in the wells for pivoting movement between a position with the running gear in the well substantially within the limits of the hull and to a position pivoted beneath the wells to a land transport position wherein the running gear protrudes downwardly from the wells to support the boat.
 2. A boat hull as defined in claim 1 wherein longitudinal ribs extend forwardly on the bottom wall as the projection of the slots and the central supporting surface is defined between the slots and the longitudinal ribs.
 3. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein the supporting surface of the bottom wall near to the bow defines an inverted shallow V shape while the supporting surface near the stern of the boat between the wells defines a shallow V shape.
 4. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein the slots defined in the stern of the boat extend less than half the height of the stern.
 5. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein an aerodynamic lip is provided at the leading edge of the slots in the bottom wall of the boat.
 6. A boat hull as defined in claim 1, wherein the running gear includes a wheel mounted to a resiliently mounted pivoting member for pivoting movement between a retracted position and a land transport position whereby the wheel protrudes from the bottom slot.
 7. A boat hull as defined in claim 6, wherein the wheel supporting member includes a crank arm resiliently mounted to a rotating shaft member extending laterally across the boat and each crank arm fixed to said shaft provided in each well mounts a freely rotating wheel. 